Words / C2

pik-uh-RESK/ˌpɪkəˈresk/

Picaresque describes a story of episodic adventures of a likeable rogue (literary): a picaresque novel, picaresque wanderings. Adventurous is everyday and wider; episodic is the structure cousin. A picaro is the rogue hero. Do not deliver a methods paper as a picaresque anecdote.

Meaning

Of a story: episodic adventures of a likeable rogue (literary).

Examples

• “A picaresque keynote is not a methods section.”
• “Adventurous is everyday. Episodic is loosely plotted. A rogue’s tale can be literature. A travelogue is a cousin. An n is not an episode. Charming mishaps do not replace a sample-size sentence. Tell the story at dinner; table the appendix in the hall.”

Good to know

Of a rogue’s episodic adventures (literary). Everyday: rambling adventure story. A yarn is not a methods section.

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